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After two outings now at Pa’s Pumpkin Patch this season, while we very much enjoyed our time there (as we always do), sadly it’s just not remaining as affordable as it used to be. And we only have one child to pay for, which is saying something about its price point (meaning: it explains why so many families with 2+ kids skipped the school night out there last week… bummer).

That got me thinking about another place that I recently took T for a very fun day out and for almost half the individual cost: Adventure City in Stanton, CA.

T heading into Adventure City in Stanton, CA. The low-key, small-town atmosphere is just part of Adventure City’s appeal for all ages.

Tucked into a small neighborhood between Buena Park, Huntington Beach, and Anaheim, Adventure City is pretty much the antithesis to the larger, busier, and heavily branded theme parks that surround it. If I had to describe Adventure City in one sentence, I’d say it’s part county fair mixed with small-town street festival that is open for year-round family fun and for a mere fraction of the cost of other seasonal carnivals or large-scale amusement centers. The park also offers rides and attractions for all-ages, including adults, which is something that many of the pop-up fall festivals just can’t boast (i.e., Pa’s rides are mostly targeted to kids under 12 by either height or weight restrictions).

Adventure City’s “Freeway Coaster” is one of its main attractions. Despite its name, this coaster moves at a rate faster than traffic on the nearby 405.

I rode in a separate seat behind T. He wanted to – and could – ride alone! We both loved this little roller coaster!

T and I went to Adventure City on a weekday during late August, which was a perfect time to go (make a note for next summer now, RMT’ers!). Our school district didn’t return for the school year until after Labor Day, but many surrounding areas started this year in mid-August, which meant fewer lines and more fun to be had in the time we visited – yet still plenty of kids for T to pal around with.

T met a couple of brothers while waiting in line for the Giggle Wheel. From here, the three boys ran through Adventure City together for about two hours!

T with his two new friends on the Express Train at Adventure City.

The boys wrapped up their visit together inside of the arcade.

No matter where we go, T always makes fast friends. On this particular outing, he befriended a set of twin brothers on vacation with their parents from the East Coast. The boys ran around all over Adventure City together for about two hours, riding rides and playing games in the arcade. Above are just a handful of the attractions they all enjoyed together while we parents watched blissfully nearby.

T on the Adventure City Express Train. For the umpteenth time that day, he didn’t want to sit next to me on the ride but go solo. At least I got to ride even if alone, right?!

T on the Crazy Bus at Adventure City.

T on the Barnstormer Planes at Adventure City.

T on the Balloon Ride at Adventure City.

T on the Carousel at Adventure City.

For reference, here’s a list of all the rides T and I enjoyed during our stay (about 4-1/2 hours). Please note that all the ride names link to their individual description on Adventure City’s website, which contains all rider restrictions and minimums on height, weight, and age (including whether a child requires adult accompaniment):

Our cost for all this? Just $14.95 each, plus another $10 for their special arcade discount deal (inquire at time of admission for the best daily offer)! Oh, wait, sorry, that’s not right. I also had a $2 off admission coupon for each of us from the KidsGuide Magazine, a free local magazine you can pick up pretty much anywhere that advertises with them (I’ve also found them stacked up at local schools).

On this day, T and I also bought lunch and snacks on-site, which all things considered was fairly affordable as well (a corn dog and drink kid’s combo was around $5). Since we didn’t know how long we’d be staying (it was quite hot out that day), I didn’t pack us lunch. Oops. For anyone planning to spend even a half-day here, do know that if you aren’t interested in buying food and snacks on-site, you are welcome to pack your own lunch and enjoy it out in front at their picnic area. You can read more here about Adventure City’s rules and conditions regarding bringing your own food (and hand-stamped re-admission), along with answers to many other FAQs before planning your visit.

So grand total for our visit, including the parking (free), admission, lunch and snacks, arcade, and a small trinket from the gift shop: About $40 for the two of us. And I have some money left on the arcade card for our next visit, too, which will make our next adventure only that much more affordable.